Originally from West Cork, Ireland, Nicola grew up very connected to nature. Moving to America, San Francisco gave her the excitement of urban living whilst still being close to some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. Nicola has been living in San Francisco for over 20 years now, arriving as a fresh art school graduate, she immediately dove into the San Francisco art scene.
Paint has always been her first medium, with subject matter varying greatly, also working extensively in Printmaking, she has been involved for many years in the theater as a set painter and has created multiple murals. She is a regular participant in SF Open Studios, as well as having shown her work in numerous exhibitions.
Nicola’s love of nature is a very strong presence in her work, in recent years she began creating outdoor spontaneous art using only found organic matter, collecting fallen petals and leaves and so forth to create stunning Mandalas, this work is an homage to the abundance of beauty in our world. She has been documenting these ephemeral works through photography and video.
The energy and power of the Mandala work have been greatly inspiring her paintings, which rejoice in the delightful array of color, shape and inter connectivity of that which is life.
Nicola believes that together we can find our center and let love radiate out and beyond to embrace and protect this precious Earth.
Follow nicola on Instagram: nicola4joy
Peace and Joy to all.
Solo Exhibitions
▫️2020 - Art for the Pandemic, Dork’s Tec Café, 1475 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley
▫️2019 - Beauty is Within, Aesthetics by Veronica, 5616 Geary Blvd., SF
▫️2019 - Grounding, diPietro Todd, Palo Alto
▫️2018 - Finding Center, diPietro Todd, SF
▫️2017 - Paint Plant Power, 1218 Page Street. SF
▫️2013 - Divine Self, 1890 Bryant Street Studios, SF
▫️2011 - Sacred Journey, The Blue Macaw, SF
▫️2005 - HeART, Skibbereen Library, Ireland
▫️2004 - Sacred Heart, Optical Underground, SF
▫️2004 - Heart 2 Heart, Cafe Aroma, SF
Group Exhibitions
▫️2017 - Alley Cat Book Store, SF
▫️2012 - Art Explosion Open Studios, SF
▫️2008 - Open Studios, Belcher St. Studios SF
▫️2004 - Graphic Arts Workshop, SF
▫️1996 - 2004, exhibited widely at galleries such as The Market Street Gallery, The Lola Gallery, Cellspace, SomArts amongst other venues.
Mural and Community Work
▫️2020 - Created instructional videos specifically for kids participating in a virtual summer camp
▫️Designed and directed creation of St. Patrick’s day float for the Irish Immigration Pastoral Center 2019
▫️Created large Painting for Electric Picnic, music/art festival in Ireland 2018
▫️Facilitated large scale public mural painting at The San Francisco Earth Day Festival 2018
▫️Mural, Fairfax 2017
▫️Custom Made Theater, SF, Scenic Artist, 2007 - present.
▫️Musical Theater Works, SF, scenic art, 2015
▫️Techspace mural, SF 2015
▫️Stagebridge Senior Theatre Company, Berkeley, Scenic Artist 2012
▫️Kids room mural, SF, 2010
▫️Kids room mural, Ireland. 2007
▫️Large scale mural for popular Irish bar, Maggie McGarries, 2006
▫️Cork Hospital, mural, IRL, 2005
▫️Asian Perinatal Advocates, Mural, 2004
▫️Art Instructor at Seven Teepees Youth Program, SF, 2004
▫️We are the Treasure, mural created with high school students on Treasure Island, SF, 2004
▫️Art & Soul Festival, mural created with youth over 3 day art festival, Oakland. 2004
▫️Cafe Aroma, table top designs, menu boards, signage. Different projects 2004 through 2013
▫️Commissions for fine art paintings such as portraits are another part of my art work.
Education
▫️2020 Certified as a Yoga Teacher. Integral Yoga 200 hour Teacher Training in Beginning Level Hatha Yoga.
Certified in Accessible Yoga, 30hr, yoga for all levels including disability and diversity.
Certified in Yoga based Stress Management, 80hr.
Now teaching a community yoga class with integralyogasf.org
Working with midpen-housing.org to present a 6 week Stress Management
workshop to their community with a view to expanding the service.
▫️2016 Painting workshop with artist Nicholas Wilton
▫️2000 - 2004 City College SF, Studied Printmaking extensively with Xavier Viramontes
▫️1998 - 2000 23rd St Studio, studied life drawing with Artist Michael Markowitz
▫️1994 - 1996 Limerick College of Art & Design, Ireland. Diploma in Fine Art Painting
▫️1995 Pontevedra Art College, Spain. 3 month exchange program.
Work Experience
▫️2018 - 2020 Head of Front of House Development, Global Gourmet Catering, ggcatering.com
Responsible for hiring, training and mentoring up to 600 staff including Event Managers.
Fostered and developed strong leadership and clear communication in the
Workplace, implementing effective systems to support and encourage a diverse team.
▫️2001 - 2018 Senior Event Manager, managing all kinds of events, large and small, intimate parties to
Mega 10,000 person conferences. Perfecting the art of precision time management,
patience, and adaptability, learning how to make any situation work and making the
Impossible possible!
▫️2001 - 2018 Worked with many companies during this time as both an Event manager as well as a
Bartender and server.
▫️1996 - 2002 Worked a variety of jobs, including bike messenger, house painter, waitress, barista,
elderly care assistant, gardener, bartender. Always making time to keep making Art.
